Time to Turn Up the Music: Why Small Towns Are the Best Next Chapter for Empty Nesters
When the kids leave home, life isn’t winding down—it’s lighting up. Discover why empty nesters are flocking to small towns for connection, creativity, and adventure.
Christmas in Middleburg 2025: A Holiday Festival in the Hunt Country of Virginia
Discover the magic of Christmas in Middleburg, VA! Explore the town’s historic downtown, top festival events, luxury lodging, best restaurants, and unique shopping. Plan your holiday getaway with our comprehensive guide to Middleburg’s holiday traditions, local eateries, boutique shops, and travel tips—just an hour from Washington, DC
Vermont Fall Road Trip - 320 sweet miles
Discover the ultimate Vermont fall road trip with our curated itinerary covering Stowe, Peacham, Woodstock, Grafton, Manchester, Dorset, Middlebury, and Burlington. Find the best scenic routes, top attractions, must-visit shops, delicious dining, and cozy places to stay—perfect for experiencing Vermont’s legendary autumn foliage!
6 Vermont Towns - 320 sweet miles
Discover the ultimate Vermont fall road trip with our curated itinerary covering Stowe, Peacham, Woodstock, Grafton, Manchester, Dorset, Middlebury, and Burlington. A few of the best scenic routes, perfect for experiencing Vermont’s legendary autumn foliage!
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Millennials in Small Towns: Why a New Generation is Choosing Small-Town Living
Millennials are forging a new path by choosing small-town living for its affordability, vibrant community, and the freedom of remote work. Explore how this generation is reshaping life outside the city, embracing work–life balance, local businesses, and adventure in America’s best small towns.
Mainstreet Maven: Anna Schoenduby
Mainstreet Maven Anna Schoenduby brings global impact to Staunton, VA through Latitudes Fair Trade. Her boutique offers ethically sourced jewelry, clothing, gifts, and home goods—empowering artisans worldwide while enriching Main Street.
Plein Air Abingdon 2025: Where Art Wanders Off Its Canvas and Into the Highlands
Mark your calendars: This isn’t your average arts fair—Plein Air Abingdon 2025 unfolds over four glorious days from Wednesday, October 1 through Saturday, October 4, 2025
Mainstreet Maven: Cindy Fellows
Meet Cindy Fellows, the creative force behind October Grace Media in Staunton, VA. Discover how this Mainstreet Maven blends photography, storytelling, and strategy to help nonprofits and small businesses shine.
Mainstreet Maven: Christina Katopodi
Discover Armiriki a design and manufacturing studio in Nafplio, Greece, where limited-edition T-shirts become stories of identity, creativity, and local pride. Co-founded by Christina Katopodi, one of our Mainstreet Mavens.
Behind the numbers: Staunton, VA
Staunton isn’t in a hurry. It doesn’t have to be. Tucked into the Shenandoah Valley with postcard-perfect streets and an old-soul sensibility, this small town of just under 29,000 has carved out a calm kind of confidence.
With a population growth of just 0.48% since 2020, Staunton is aging gracefully—not booming, not shrinking, just holding its ground. The median age is 42.4, and you get the sense people here didn’t just choose it—they stayed on purpose.
Mainstreet Maven: Sandi Cararo
Tucked into a narrow storefront along Beverley Street in the heart of downtown Staunton, Virginia, sits The Book Dragon—a small shop with a big spirit, run by a woman whose story is just as compelling as the titles she stocks.
Meet Sandi Cararo, Army veteran, dog mom, relentless book lover, and the heart behind Staunton’s independent bookstore. She’s a force on Main Street—part dreamer, part pragmatist, all moxie.
Behind the numbers: Farmville, VA
With a median age of 30, affordable homes, and a vibrant mix of locals and college life, Farmville, Virginia offers surprising energy in a low-cost, high-character package.
Summertime Farmer’s Markets
Talk about where small towns really shine - the summertime farmers market. This sets the farm-to-table game on an entirely new level! Here are a few of the markets, dates & times, and websites for some of our favorites. Make sure you check them for up to date times and locations. Some are open all year, but move indoors.
Summer: Time to get the tribe together
Was it catching fireflies with your Uncle Joe or was it watching your mom performing a picture perfect cannon ball to the applause of the family? Was it the late night laughter you heard between your parents and your aunts and uncles as you listened through the screened windows and cool summer breeze? Was it a time when you heard stories from your grandfather that taught you that he was once a boy too? These gatherings are where so many of the memories that hold the tapestry of our lives and family identities together.
The Weather in Lexington, VA: Four Seasons of Shenandoah Charm
If you’re the kind of person who loves a bit of everything-sunny days, crisp autumns, snowy mornings, and the sweet promise of spring-Lexington, Virginia, is your kind of town. Tucked into the rolling Shenandoah Valley, Lexington’s weather is as varied and inviting as its historic streets and mountain views.
Southport, NC: Hollywood’s Coastal Darling
Southport’s allure is more than just its postcard-perfect scenery. The town’s blend of ornate Victorian homes, historic churches, and the storied Fort Johnston-overlooking the river’s mouth-creates a timeless setting. Add in friendly faces and a walkable downtown, and it’s no wonder directors keep coming back. Hollywood insiders call Southport “one of its favorite filming locations,” and the list of productions that have called it home is nothing short of remarkable
Jazz in the summertime
The Newport Jazz Festival 2025 returns to the scenic grounds of Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, from August 1–3, promising another unforgettable chapter in its storied legacy. Now celebrating its 71st year, this iconic festival-founded in 1954 by jazz impresario George Wein and Newport socialite Elaine Lorillard-remains a beacon for music lovers, drawing crowds from around the world to its picturesque seaside setting.
📷: @rettrogers 
All Aboard – and Up Top!
Picture this: you’re sipping a Shenandoah Valley Chardonnay while your seat glides higher than the locomotive itself, sunlight bouncing off 360-degrees of curved glass. That’s not a travel writer’s daydream—it’s the brand-new “Shenandoah” vista-dome car on the Virginia Scenic Railway, affectionately known to locals as the Shenandoah Railroad. The domed beauty began life in 1948 on the legendary California Zephyr, spent a spell as country-icon Merle Haggard’s personal ride, and—after a top-to-tie restoration—now rolls out of downtown Staunton, Virginia.
The Best Things to Do in Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, Texas, is a charming small town with a big personality. With a population of approximately 11,000, it welcomes over one million visitors each year—and for good reason. Situated in the heart of Texas Hill Country, it blends rich German heritage, a thriving wine scene, and a vibrant Main Street with the beauty of a designated Dark Sky Community. Whether you’re making a quick stop on your way to Austin or San Antonio, or planning a longer getaway, Fredericksburg offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and outdoor adventure.